The xylophone was first created in Indonesia and is a member of the percussion family. The instrument has a set of different sized bars that are made out of wood and are each made to make a particular note when struck. The different bars are struck with wooden, rubber or plastic mallets to make different [...]
Frederic Chopin was born March 1, 1810 in the Duchy of Warsaw in Poland. He was not very old when his potential was recognized. In fact, he was regarded as a child prodigy pianist. As early as seven, Frederic Chopin was performing in front of an audience and composed two of his first pieces in [...]
If asked to name a piano piece that is near-perfect, one noted example comes to mind for many people. That piece is Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. Clair de Lune, the third and most famous movement of Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque, has entranced listening ears for over century. It has been the inspiration for many [...]
Minor chords create a sound which is somber or serious; some people even think of minor chords as “sad”, as opposed to major chords which sound “normal”, or “happy”. Some of the great classics are written in minor keys, including Fur Elise by Beethoven, Prelude in C# Minor by Rachmaninoff, Prelude in Cm by Chopin, [...]
Looking for a little entertainment with your music homework? Here are the top 10 ways to make piano lessons fun: 1. Go With The Flow. Sometimes it’s easier to practice piano lessons when they reflect the mood that we’re in. If it’s a sunny day outside, play some music that complements the weather. If you’re [...]
With the advent of the internet there is no longer any excuse for not learning music if a person wants to learn. Learning music online has revolutionized learning, since it is the first time in history that anyone with a computer can virtually find out anything they want to know about music — and find [...]
Every since about 1709 when Christofori announced that he had invented an instrument to upscale the harpsichord,the piano has been the premier musical instrument in terms of popularity and versatility. The harpsichord played all at one volume level — no soft or loud. So when an instrument was invented that played both soft and loud [...]
If you’re thinking of taking piano lessons — or if you already take them — it’s a good idea to learn something about the long musical tradition in which you will be participating. After all, nobody’s choice to play piano is made in a vacuum. No, we decide to learn the instrument because of its [...]
Why jazz piano improvisation? Why not gospel piano improvisation? Is it not possible to improvise classical music, or sacred music, or any other kind of music? Bach improvised many of his fugues and inventions while playing organ in church. Many others in all musical styles have improvised within the context of their own persuasion. So [...]
Over the past decade, the rise of the Internet has dramatically changed the availability and presentation of piano music. Free downloads of sheet music — as well as audio recordings of piano performances — are easy to find in abundance through a simple Web search. Because of this, old-fashioned sheet music publication has been on [...]
